The Notice of Privacy Practices (NOPP) is provided as a requirement under the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. Although Dr. McKinlay has always had privacy and patient confidentiality standards in place to limit unauthorized access or disclosure of personal health information, the new privacy rule provides patients with additional safeguards for ensuring their health information is adequately protected and is used by Dr. McKinlay to provide quality patient care.

The NOPP explains how Dr. McKinlay may use and share your personal health information to carry out treatment, payment of services and health care operations. Other reasons permitted or required by law are also referred to in the Notice. The NOPP also explains your rights to read and control your protected health information and explains the responsibility Dr. McKinlay has to protect you.

Personal health information may be about your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and relates to health care services. It could include your age, ethnicity, or other personal statistics. You have the right to do the following:

Read and copy your personal health information,

Ask for limits to be put on the use or sharing of your health information,

Ask that communications about your personal health information be done through ways that further protect your privacy,

Ask to have corrections made to your personal health information, and

Get a listing of where and when your personal health information was shared.

Please call Joseph R. McKinlay, M.D., L.L.C. (808) 528-1717 if you have questions concerning your privacy rights under HIPAA.